The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-29


done; they must be done at once. they must
be done now. What are we to do? We have
these Institutions on our hands: we know
somewhat what they cost; we know somewhat
what they are worth, but what are we to do
with them2 In the first place, let us think of
them: let us remember them, and if we can
not do anything else let us talk about them,
and show our interest in them with our
families and friends. Let us look upon them
as the farmer looks upon a field of wheat that
is Just springing into life; he does not care if
his wheat only stands well if it is only six
inches high, ii is the promise of something
better. So these Institutions, though small
now, are capable of being of great influence,
and will be of great influence If we give them
countenance and support. need not say we
need money for them. The oldest and richest
institution in this country is continually
needing money; for young institution like
| ours money is an essential thing. l want to
| say just one word to my friends who have
money. Do not wait until you are dead be-
| fore giving it to us. / know persons who have
| thought of doing great things with their
| money when they die, but they died and gave
no sign. Do not leave off doing good until
| you are dead; the best time to do good is
| when you have the means and the opportunity.
100000 just now would be worth $4,000
twenty years hence by mathematical compu-
tation. small sum from each one of you
would put our institutions on a fine basis. and
with large prospect of future success.
There is another thing / want to say. If
| you have any regard for your faith, and the
| institutions of your denomination, send your
sons and daughters to them; do not send them
to the old and popular schools. What would
you think of my going to Presbyterian church
because twas the most popular church in the
| village where l CHANGED to live. You would
say; is that the respect that he feels for his
church in which he has been at work so long
half century or more-does not he love his
own church, humble though it be, better than
to go over to DIR. Blumenhalls large church,
! / am ashamed of him, you say, and so you
would have reason to be. 1t is just 90 in this
matter. We can give at College Hill as good
practicable education as you could get at
Harvard or Yale. Our boys go out and come
in competition with those from other institu-
lions, and in seven cases out of ten they take
the prize. just because the school is not so
popular, not so flaring and well known. They
go to college to learn to get an education, and
the whole influence of the spirit of the place
is in accordance with that. They are not rich,
they are young men who have to work their
way through this world, and they are prepar-
ing for the struggle. Send your sons and
your daughters to your own schools, if you
have to send them out of your household.
That encourages everybody, that gives
strength, that gives popularity, and goes to
make up the success of the schools for which
we hope / would speak of this, particularly
to our clergy, who sometimes slip just there's
! Al,1 al 4
most popular colleges it may be good policy,
but it is mighty bad politics.
have said about all wish to say, more
perhaps than you have cared to hear. but
have Just this thing to urge upon you, our
theological schools are institutions which
touch the church more directly than the col
leges and academies. They are the institu-
tions that are to fit the young men in some
degree for the work of the ministry; they
need to be endowed; they need to be furnished
with labor and all the materials for a good
thorough education. 1 suppose we want to-
day as much as anything thorough-going
scholarship. We have been doing what we
ould for our young men, but we have not
been doing all we wish to; they do not come
to us in such condition, as to their educa
tion as would best fit them for the work they
per cent of those who enter the theological
school that come from our school; the other
seventy-five per, b~come from other col
leges. do not mean to say they do not be-
come good ministers; some of them are
among our brightest fellows. We want their
training to begin in our schools; young men
cannot be fit to enter theological school
without some prior training; the church
must see to this, that they are not only fur
nisbed to the theological school but prepared
for the work they have to do there. The
churchmen of our parishes must take this
subject up and work at it earnestly. We need
more learning Not that God cannot carry on
his work without learning. As the old deacon
said to Robert Hall. GOD has no need of learn
ing" mo. said Robert Hall, land as little
does he need the ignorance of men,"
1 look out upon the world to-day, and the
world in this country particularly. l believe
that here in America, in this United States,
the finest system of theology. the highest type
of the Christian religion is to be brought.
Here we have no established church; here
men are relatively free in their thought; here
are opportunities for investigation and for the
solution of the highest and most difficult
problems that present themselves to the mind
of men. IT am not mistaken, we shall have
here in America the very best Interpretation
of the Christian religion that has ever been
propounded since the apostles passed out of
| the world. Young men should feel this, and
should prepare themselves to meet the emer-
gencies that may occur in the course of life.
| am too old to enter into it; there are others
just below me that have the whole field before
them. and such opportunities as no other men
ever had before in this world l am not sure
that we have got through with the battle yet,
| that we have vauquished Orthodoxy yet; /
am not sure that we have seen the victory and
that there is nothing more to be done. 1 may
J rather suppose that there is to be yet great
battle in the valley of Armageddon; when
| our young people will have put on the armor
and fight for the faith as it is in Christ Jesus.
] would have them fight for it; would have
them set about preparation for it; it should
be an object of profound interest: they should
enter upon its study whatever it may be, with
| a firm determination to understand it, and to
understand its principles and natural effect,
and be prepared for any emergency that may
| occur in the future of their lives. OH That
| had the voice of a trumpet to arouse our
| clergy all over the land to a sense of the inn
portance of their work, and of the prepare
ton they should make to meet it and do it
J nobly. l would / could speak with the voice
of an angel, that could call my brethren up
to a higher and nobler effort. to deeper
thought, more thorough study, deeper conse-
Grafton of themselves, to everything that
shall prove the noblest impulse of the Chris